Protect wildlife, plants, and trees

Sudden loud noises or shouting can frighten animals and wild life. A bird
could be frightened away from its nest and abandon it's eggs or young. Animals
with young are protective and loud noises could frighten them and cause them to
run and the young could be hurt. Wild animals are not used to unusual noises
like humans shouting and screaming and could be frightened away. A farmer would not be pleased if his animals were scared or frightened by people
making a lot of noise. So be careful, the quieter you are, the more chance you
have of seeing some of our wonderful wild animals and birds.

Do not pick wild flowers, they will die if they are too damaged. Some wild
flowered have become very rare and it is illegal to pick them. Don't
deliberately disturb wild animals, you may frighten them away or destroy their
home. Damaged trees can die. Cutting the bark or breaking the branches allows
disease to get in and they can be damaged. Certain plants, animals and birds
have become endangered and should be left alone to encourage them to breed and reproduce. Protect what we have in the country side and
it will be there forever.

You should always remember that, although the countryside is a wondrous place
to explore, it is also the working environment for farmers, foresters, market
gardeners and many other people. The land, unless clearly indicated as a public
footpath, belongs to someone and you must be careful not to trespass.

Help keep water clean

Animals and plants need the clean water, and if it is contaminated by human
waste, soaps, and rubbish, it can cause disease and pollute the water. Muddying a stream cattle or sheep drink from
is the equivalent
of getting dirty water from your tap, it is not pleasant to drink. Discarding
rubbish into water is creating a hazard for animals who may wade in the water and could be injured by discarded glass, cans and other rubbish.

Guard against all risk of fire

Fires are destructive, and not only destroy crops, trees, property but also
can kill the wildlife. Special precautions are needed when building an open
fire, and Cubs can only do this under the supervision of an adult. Glass
magnifies the sun's rays, like a magnifying glass, and can start a fire. In
summer, even an adult discarding a cigarette can start a fire if it lands on dry
grass. In forested areas, special precautions are needed because of the dry
leaves and dead wood that lies around.

Take your litter home

Broken glass can injure animals, wild and domestic. It can also start fires
in certain conditions. Plastic bags, if eaten by animals can kill them.
Discarded paper is a fire hazard if near glass. Animals can eat sweet wrappers
and become ill. Cans have jagged edges which can cut and injure animals feet.
Discarded moldy food can also make animals ill. So take all litter home, or put
it in a litter bin where it will be safe.

Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls

A broken fence, hedge or wall can give animals the opportunity to escape into
another field, onto the road, or onto another farmer's land. Sometimes, the
escaped animals could be put at risk from other dangers, like being able to get near a quarry, cliff or
have access to crops, which when eaten could make them very ill. Fences, walls and hedges are there to
retain or restrain animals and must not be damaged by the public. Always look
for a stile, gateway or a safe place to cross them where you will cause no
damage.

Fasten all gates

Closed gates are there for a reason, and sometimes
this reason is not always obvious
to people who do not live in the country. Cattle need to be kept in certain
fields. If they escape into a wrong field, like one growing cabbages, they can
eat something they are not supposed to and become very ill. Gates to fields are
there to stop farm animals getting onto roads, where they could cause
accidents. Gates are a barrier, a means of retaining or protecting what is in the fields and
must always be closed after you have gone through them.

Keep your dogs under close control

A playful dog may chase or scare farm animals, some can become over excited
and attack the farmers stock. Any dog seen worrying animals can be shot by the
farmer. So to protect your pet, and to safeguard the farmers stock, always keep
your dog on a leash in the countryside. Even though there may be no farm animals
around, remember there are wild animals and your dog could chase and injure them
in his playfulness.

Keep to public footpaths across farmland

Walking across a field on a public footpath means staying on that path
and not wandering over the land around it. No farmer wants to see crops trampled, or land just
plowed and seeded trodden down. Public footpaths
usually go around the edge of a field, and are clearly marked to avoid the public doing any damage. Follow the path, don't
wander onto the farmers land or he may be annoyed or you could be prosecuted
for doing damage to his crops or scaring his stock.

Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone

Farm animals can be dangerous to people who are
not used to working with them. They are valuable, they may be carrying young,
or protecting their offspring and must not be frightened. Crops must not be
damaged or the farmer will not be able to harvest them. All farm machinery can
be very dangerous to those not used to working with it and must not be tampered
with. Some have sharp blades for plowing and hoeing, some spray fertilizers and manure which could be
harmful to handle.

Take care on country roads

Motorists, cyclists, and walkers should take care on country roads as you
never know what is round the next bend: The farmers walk their animals along
some roads, people ride horses and animals can stray onto roads where, when
suddenly frightened, could be injured. In some areas, deer run wild and could
cross a road suddenly. Damaged fences and open gates may allow sheep and cattle
to wander onto a road where they can be a danger to any road user and be themselves in danger from the traffic.

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Old School Scouting:
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